Improvement in time-indicating night-lamps



H. BEHN, 81*. Time Indicating Night Lamp.

Patented April 2, 1878.

INVENT 01 flg ll w wz j LAW ml WI 'TNESEEE- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BEHN, SR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN TIME-INDICATING NIGHT-LAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,864, dated April 2, 1878; application filed February 21, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY BEHN, Sr., of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Night-Lamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in night-lamps.

It consists in the combination of a reservoir for containing oil, two transparent tubes rising vertically therefrom, upon the top of one of which the lamp-burner is placed, and in the other, having the hours marked upon it, is a float, which, by its movement downward in the tube, will indicate the time, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawing represents my invention.

a represents a reservoir or bowl for holding the oil, which may be of any desired shape, size, or construction. Rising from the top of this bowl or reservoir are the two glass tubes 1) 0, about the same height, one of which is made perfectly plain, and the other having the hours blown or marked upon it. Upon the top of the plain tube is placed a small night-lamp burner. Secured to the base a, just at the foot of this tube, is placed the reflector e, which catches the light that descends from the burner, and reflects it across so as to show both tubes, and make the figures, marks, or symbols upon the tube which indicate the time stand out as plainly as possible. In this tube 0, upon which the figures are marked, is placed a cork or other suitable float, 0, which, by its downward movement, indicates the hour.

Should it be so desired, the float may be dispensed with and colored oil or other fluid used, so that the figures will stand out in bold relief against it. These two tubes 1) c are of the same height, and the bowl or base a is filled through either one until the oil reaches the top of both tubes.

As a certain quantity of oil will be burned each hour, the sinking down of the oil will indicate exactly, or so nearly so, the correct time that it will answer all the purposes required of a clock in a sick-room.

This lamp can be placed by the bedside of an invalid, or at any suitable place in a sickroom, and be used to indicate not only the time in the night, but when medicine should be administered.

If so preferred, but a single tube may be used, in which case the figures will be marked upon it, and the time indicated by the falling of the oil, or a ring-float placed inside.

In order to keep the wick perfectly straight in the tube b, a long tube, 15, is attached to the lower end of the burner, and the wick passes through this tube down into the base. By means of this tube t the wick is prevented from doubling up and rising in the tube in such a manner as to interfere with the reflection of the light through the tube, or in such a manner as to prevent it from falling with the oil. By means of this tube the wick is always kept straight, and its lower end kept in the base a, and thus it is constantly submerged in the oil.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A night-lamp provided with a tube upon which the hours are marked, and in which the time is indicated by the falling of the oil or a float, substantially as set forth.

2. In a night-lamp, the combination of one or more transparent tubes, base or reservoir to, and a reflector, substantially as shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of February, 1878.

HENRY BEHN, SR.

Witnesses:

H. A. BEEN, Jr., WM. MELXNER. 

